Year of Healthy Children and Families

Year of Healthy Children and Families

College of Health

100 years of healthy children and families 1926-2026

College of Health announces “Year of Children and Families”

Join in celebrating the OSU Child Development Center’s centennial and the 
Hallie Ford Center’s 15th anniversary

In 2026, the College of Health celebrates a century of helping give children the best start in life. For 100 years, the OSU Child Development Center has served local children and families while preparing future early childhood educators and serving as a living laboratory for child researchers.

At the same time, the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families is celebrating its 15th year promoting the development and well-being of children, youth and families by generating, translating and sharing research-based knowledge that impacts people across Oregon and beyond.

Events

Events supporting healthy children and families.

  • April 10: Beyond Gamification: Using Robots to Unlock the Power of People Through Play
  • May 29: 2026 Schild Nicholson Neurodiversity Lecture “The Enduring Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Research Examining Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders at Midlife
  • October: 2026 Campbell Lecture
  • TBD: HFC 15-year celebration
  • TBD: CDC 100th anniversary celebration

Dedicated to Healthy Children and Families

These College of Health centers and programs are committed to improving children’s health and well-being.

Smiling children running along a sun-dappled outdoor path surrounded by lush green trees.

Hallie E. Ford Center

The Hallie E. Ford Center at OSU promotes child and family well-being through research, training and outreach. Interdisciplinary approach serving Oregon and beyond.

Preschool students engage in sensory play with a red bucket of water while a teacher assists them in a well-equipped classroom environment.

OSU Child Development Center

The OSU Child Development Center discovers and disseminates knowledge that contributes to the optimal development and well-being of young children and their families. It is the only program in Oregon that provides student teaching in a combined Head Start and tuition paying prekindergarten lab setting.

Man carrying two small children in a field of red poppies, with a third child running ahead towards tall trees.

HFC centers, programs and groups

The Hallie E. Ford Center houses research centers, programs, and faculty groups focused on early childhood, parenting education, family policy, and children's environmental health.

A teacher smiles and assists a child with a physical activity on a scooter board within an indoor sensory gym.

IMPACT & IMPACT for Life

IMPACT is a physical activity program for children, youth and young adults with disabilities.

IMPACT for Life is a transitioning service program offshoot from IMPACT and integrates adults with disabilities into community physical activity opportunities including local gyms, swim clubs and indoor rock climbing

Happy children of various backgrounds enjoying outdoor play and physical activity in a bright park setting.

Extension Family and Community Health

Housed on campus and in communities across the state, College of Health faculty funded by OSU Extension Family and Community Health partner in communities to promote healthy nutrition, food safety and security, physical activity, behavioral/mental health and well-being, emergency preparedness, community resilience and more.

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